by Adam Darbyshire--

Within the opening moments of the Premazzi/Nasser Quartet’s debut release From What I Recall, it becomes clear that this is the work of a distinctly unique and modern voice. While the group occasionally dips into the familiar territory of that “modern” jazz sound, they consistently find ways to recontextualize those sounds with clear intent and originality.

From What I Recall plays like something of an experiment in the manipulation of melody--even at its most rhythmically challenging points, it can still be incredibly catchy.

On tunes like “Back Seat,” Premazzi and Nasser (who split writing credits on the record) turn rhythmic displacement into a melodic device reminiscent of Thelonious Monk’s playful phrasing. This experiment continues with tunes like “Persistence of Change,” which contrastingly uses space as something of a melodic device, still in a similar way.

All considered, this record comes off as less of a debut project for the quartet, and more like an invitation to consider new possibilities in the evolution of contemporary jazz.

Favorite tracks: Back Seat, Persistence of Change, Rocks That Aren’t So Smooth, From What I Recall

Rating: 4/5 stars